Loading machine



M. S. MOORE LOADING MACHINE June 18, 1935.-

Filed Aug. 15, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 M. S. MOORE LOADING .MACHINE June 18, 1935.

Filed Aug. 13, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 18, 1935. I M, s. MOORE 2,005,524

' LOADING .MACHINE Filed Aug. 13, 1954 SSheets-Sheet 5 WWW/M Patented June 18, 1935 LOADING MACHINE I Matthew Smith Moore, Malvern, England, as-

signor of one-half to The Mining Engineering ilompany Limited, Worcester, England, a

British company Application August 13, 1934, Serial No. 739,699 in Great Britain September 16, 1933 10 Claims.

This invention relates to loading machines such as are used in coal mines for removing the broken down coal, and it has particular reference to means for transferring the broken down material gathered by the loader to a longwall conveyor or like device whereby it is removed and delivered to suitable cars or the like.

An object of my invention is to provide means adapted to be interposed between the loading machine and a longwall or face conveyor so that material delivered by the machine will safely fall onto the conveyor as the machine moves along the same.

A further object is so to devise the said means that their operation will not be interfered with by mine props, and that any props set to support the roof near the conveyor need not be removed to make way for the advancing machine.

Further objects are to provide means of this kind which will be easy to manipulate and will not interfere with the freedom of movement of the machine.

In accordance with this invention I provide the loading machine with stationary plates or bridges interposed between the mine props andextending from the conveyor beyond the props and having sliding engagement with the machine so'as to form a continuous connection across the gap between the loader and the conveyor as the ma-- chine advances, without interference from such props or like obstacles which may be positioned between the machine and the conveyor.

Such sliding engagement may be obtained by providing along the longitudinal edge of the plates, a bead which engages a groove in the machine so that the latter can advance along the said plates, or by pivotally securing to the machine, a short flap over-lapping the longitudinal edge of the plates and adapted ,to slide over the plates as the machine advances. V

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, two embodiments of the machine according to my invention:

Figure 1 is an elevation showing in side view a machine co-operating with bridges according to my invention and a longwall conveyor,

Figure 2 is a corresponding plan View, and

Figure 3 a cross-section on line IIIIII of Figure 2,

Figure 4 shows a detail on a larger scale,

Figure 5 is an elevation showing another embodiment of the invention comprising a machine fitted with short bridges or flaps.

Figure 6 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a cross-section on line VII-VII of Figure 6.

In the drawings I is the endless conveyor of the loading machine, 2 the gear box from which the loader is driven, 3 is the main casing of the machine and i the skid or base plate on which it is supported. 5 is the longwall conveyor along which is a line of props 6 supporting the roof of the mine.

In the constructional form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, the space comprised between the loader conveyor 1 and the longwall conveyor 5 is bridged by plates '1 which are supported at the sides on brackets 8 adjustably secured to the props 8. The plates or bridges l -are slightly inclined towards the conveyor 5 and their upper edge, adjacent the loading machine, is

welted or beaded as shown at 9. On the machine is secured a grooved guide member Ill in which the beads 9 can be slidably engaged, said member having a narrow slot it through which the plate 1 extends when the bead is in the groove so as to be capable of limited pivotal movement between the upper and lower edges of the slot.

In operation, two or more bridges l are. arranged along the longwall conveyor and connected with each other, at the bead, by means of plug and socket joints I 2, l3 (Fig. 4) which joints allow of relative pivotal movement of any plate with respect to the adjacent plate. By suitable adjustment of the brackets 8, the bridges are held at the required height, so that the machine will engage, with its grooved member ill, the bead of the first bridge 1, whereupon, as it advances, it will thread itself along the line of beads 9. The joints It, It preferably are sufficiently loose to allow for a certain flexibility of the line of bridges, so that said line forms between the machine and the conveyor a continuous connection which allows for an occasional deviation of the machine from a dead straight line parallel to the conveyor.

In order that the line of bridges shall not be in the way of the machine casing, I provide on the side of the casing two or more steps I t adapted to raise the edge of the bridge so that it reaches above the top of the casing, when the bridge may be swung about its upper edge and turned over on to the top of the machine as shown at 1 in Fig. 2.

The bridges behind the machine are removed and serve to build up the line of bridges ahead of the machine.

In the modification illustrated in Figures 5 to 7, the machine is fitted with a bearing E5 in which a flap it is pivotally mounted. Between successive props I place along the conveyor 5 stools or tables I! conveniently made of sheet metal which rest on the edge of the conveyor and on legs l8.

As the machine moves forward, the ilap it slides on the stools and passes from one stool to the next, providing the desired connection with the conveyor 5,

It will be understood that constructional changes may be made in carrying out my invention, without departing from the scope thereof, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a loading machine, means for transferring material from said machine to a stationary conveyor beyond mine props, comprising stationary plates adapted to be interposed between mine props, said plates extending to said conveyor, said plates having a sliding engagement with the machine and forming a continuous connection across the gap between said machine and conveyor as the machine advances.

2. In combination with a loading machine, means for transferring material from said machine to a stationary conveyor while the machine advances along said conveyor, comprising stationary plates adapted to bridge the gap between said machine and conveyor, said plates being arranged side by side, and means on the machine having a sliding engagement with said plates.

3. In combination with a loading machine, means for transferring material from said ma- 5 chine to a stationary conveyor beyond a line of props, comprising stationary plates adapted to be arranged between said props, across the gap be tween said machine and conveyor, each said plate having a bead formed along its edge adjacent the machine, and means on the machine slidably engaging said beads.

4. In combination with a loading machine, means for transferring material from said machine to a stationary conveyor, comprising sta- ;tionary plates arranged side by side across the gap between said machine and conveyor, each said plate having a longitudinal edge adjacent the machine and a longitudinal edge resting on said conveyor, a bead formed on said longitudinal edge adjacent the machine, and, a grooved chine to a stationary conveyor, comprising sta-" tionary plates arranged side by side across the gap between said machine and conveyor, each said plate having a bead formed along one of its edges, means on said machine for slidably engaging said beads, and means for removably connecting adjacent plates with one another.

6. In combination with a loading machine, means for transferring material from said machine to a stationary conveyor While the machine advances in a direction parallel to said conveyor, comprising stationary plates arranged side by side across the gap between said machine and conveyor, each said plate having a bead formed along one of its edges, a grooved guide on the machine for slidably engaging said beads, said grooved guide having an opening of sufiicient width to allow of limited pivotal movement of the plates having their beads engaged thereby, and joints removably connecting the beads of adjacent plates, said joints allowing of relative pivotal movement of any plate relative to the adjacent plates.

7. In combination with a loading machine, means for transferring material from said ma chine to a stationary conveyor, comprising stationary plates arranged side by side across the gap between said machine and conveyor, guiding means on said machine slidably engaging the upper edges of said plates, steps on said machine for raising said plates at the rear end of said guiding means, and joints connecting the upper edges of adjacent plates, said joints allowing of relative pivotal movement of any plate relative to the adjacent plates.

8. In combination with a loading machine, means for transferring material from said machine to a stationary conveyor, comprising plates arranged side by side across the gap between said machine and conveyor, supports for holding said plates in inclined positions, and means on said machine, for slidably engaging the top portions of successive plates.

9. In combination with a loading machine, means for transferring material from said machine to a stationary conveyor beyond a line of props, comprising stationary plates adapted to be arranged in an inclined position between said props, across the gap between said machine and conveyor, supports for said plates adapted to be secured to said props, means on said machine for slidably engaging the top edges of said plates, and means for connecting with each other the top edges of adjacent plates and keeping said edges in alignment with one another.

10. In combination with a loading machine, means for transferring material from said machine to a stationary conveyor beyond a line of props, comprising stationary tables arranged between adjacent props, the tops of said tables comprising inclined plates having their lower edges overhanging said conveyor, and a flap pivoted to said loading machine and adapted to slide along the top edges of adjacent plates.

MATTHEW SMITH MOORE. 

